Woman Accidentally Bakes Life Savings

He thought it would be the safest place to hide $15,000, as his wife never used it. But a Sydney man is today seriously regretting leaving his life savings in the oven, after his wife turned it on and promptly burnt the cash.

The man, who did not want to be identified, sold his Toyota Supra car for $15,000 and left the money in his kitchen oven without telling his wife. She then turned it on to preheat, in advance of cooking some chicken nuggets for their two children; those nuggets are now probably the most expensive in history.

He was forced to sell his car after the economic slowdown had affected his metal roofing business and was planning to use the cash to pay off bills.

"It was everything I had. I've got nothing to my name. That money was supposed to go towards my mortgage," he said.

Upon discovering the shrivelled and singed notes, he attempted to take them to his local bank in an attempt to deposit them, but was flatly refused by the assistant. However, after Australia's Nine News got in touch, the bank, Westpac Merrylands, had a change of heart and said that they would "do whatever we can...within the guidelines".

They now hope that the Reserve Bank of Australia will replace the damaged notes.